Roofing bracket

ABSTRACT

A roofing bracket for use with a platform for working on a roof. The roofing bracket includes a base having a proximal and distal end. At least one nail slot is disposed through the base near its distal end. A platform support arm is disposed along said base and includes a bottom lip, a platform support and a guardrail. A backside support extends from and includes at least a portion that is substantially perpendicular to the proximal end of the base. The backside support includes an angled lip, wherein the angled lip is attached with a rear portion of the platform support. A heel extends from the backside support. Finally, at least one brace is disposed between the backside support and the platform support. The heel and brace cooperate to provide a roofer with easy means in which to remove the bracket after use, such that the bracket nor roofing shingles are destroyed.

This is a continuation in part application from previous applicationfiled on Feb. 15, 2001. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus forassisting a roofer performing work on a roof, and, more particularly toan apparatus which is secured to a roof and supports a platform so thatthe roofer can work off of the platform.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Roofing brackets are well known in the art of roofing. Shown inFIG. 1 is a roofing bracket 10 of the prior art. The roofing bracket 10used in conjunction with a platform allows a roofer to gain access tohigher positions on a roof. In use, a roofer lifts a portion of an uppershingle and places the roofing bracket 1 0 over a tar saturated portionof a lower shingle. The roofer drives a nail into each nail slotdisposed through the roofing bracket. Typical roofing brackets includethree nail slots.

[0005] Once the roofing bracket 10 is secure in place, the rooferinserts a platform into a platform support arm 24 between at least tworoofing brackets. At this point, the roofer uses the platform as supportand to hold tools and supplies.

[0006] When the roofer finishes his work, he must remove the roofingbracket 10. One method for removing the roofing bracket 10 is to pry thebracket 10 out at the nailed slotted portions. However, this provesdifficult and often destroys parts of the upper shingle. Further, thenails are very difficult to pry from several types of wood used onroofs, such as tongue and groove pieces.

[0007] Another method more commonly used is to strike a backside support42 of the roofing bracket 10 with a hammer, so that the bracket 10 willslide along the nails at slotted channels until the roofing bracket 10becomes disengaged. However, this is difficult because the backsidesupport 42 of the roofing bracket 10 often collapses, thus destroyingthe bracket 10.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcomethe problems associated with the prior art, as discussed above, and toprovide an improved roofing bracket.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide aroofing bracket that is easily removed from the roof when finished inuse.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide aroofing bracket that stays intact during its removal from the roof.

[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aroofing bracket that can be removed without destroying any installedshingles.

[0012] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide aroofing bracket that is durable so that it can be reused time and timeagain.

[0013] It is still another object of the present invention to provide aroofing bracket that can be manufactured in a simple manner.

[0014] It is still a further object of the present invention to providea roofing bracket such that the backside support does not collapse whenstruck with a hammer.

[0015] These and other objects are attained in accordance with thepresent invention wherein there is provided a roofing bracket for usewith a platform and having a base with a proximal and distal end. Atleast one nail slot is disposed through the base near its distal end. Aplatform support arm is disposed along said base and includes a bottomlip, a platform support and a substantially L-shaped guardrail. Abackside support extends perpendicular from the proximal end of thebase. The backside support includes an angled lip, wherein the angledlip is attached with a rear portion of the platform support. A heelextends from the backside support. Finally, at least one brace isdisposed between the backside support and the platform support.

[0016] In various embodiments, the heel is of a different color than thecolor of the backside support. The heel may be disc-shaped and include athickness that is greater than the thickness of the backside support.The disc-shaped heel includes a diameter that is equal to the width ofthe backside support. In a preferred embodiment, the heel is rectangularshaped having a width equal to a width of the backside support.

[0017] The at least one angle brace is preferably partially rectangularshaped having one side being wedge or triangular shaped and extends fromthe front side of the backside support to the back side of the platformsupport. The triangular or wedge shaped portion has dimensions formed bythe interior angle between the platform support arm and the base.Various other sizes and shapes can also make an effective angle brace.

[0018] The roofing bracket of the present invention can be one-piececast or manufactured from a plurality of components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of the preferred embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a side-elevation view of the roofing bracket of theprior art;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a side-elevation view of the roofing bracket of thepresent invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the roofing bracket of FIG. 2;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a side-elevation view of the roofing bracket of FIGS. 2and 3 shown in use on a typical roof;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket inaccordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket inaccordance with a second alternative embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket inaccordance with a third alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the roofing bracket in accordancewith a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

[0029]FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket shown inFIG. 5 minus the heel.

[0030]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a roofing bracket in accordancewith yet another alternative embodiment having a corrugated brace;

[0031]FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket having arectangular shaped brace; and

[0032]FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket having anelevated brace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, the roofing bracket 10 of the presentinvention shall be described in detail. The roofing bracket 10 includesa flat bottomed base 12 having a plurality of nail slots 14 disposedtherethrough. The nail slots 14 include an arcuate head portion 16 whichopens into a rearwardly running slanted channel 18. Alternatively thenail slots could be teardrop shaped nail slots 114 as shown in FIG. 11or any other slot known would be obvious to one skilled in the art.Turning back now to FIG. 2, the slanted channel 18 runs continuouslyuntil a lateral edge 20 of the base 12 is reached. At the lateral edge20, the distal edge 22 of the slanted channel 18 bevels rearwardly.

[0034] Moving rearwardly along the base 12, a platform support arm 24includes a platform support 26 and a bottom lip 28, wherein the bottomlip 28 mounts to the base 12. It is desirable that the angle of theplatform support 26 relative to the base 12 matches the pitch of theroof.

[0035] Moving upward along the platform support arm 24, a top supportmember 30 disposed on the upward edge of the platform support 26 runssubstantially perpendicular to the platform support 26. The top supportmember 30 includes an opening 32 that allows a nail 74 to be driventherethrough and into a platform 34 (shown in FIG. 4). This nailprevents the platform 34 from moving in any direction.

[0036] At the upward edge of the top support member 30, a platformflange cover 36 is disposed in a downward angled forward facingdirection. The top support member 30 and platform flange cover 36 form asubstantially L-shaped guardrail 38 having an angle that is slightlygreater than ninety degrees. The L-shaped guardrail 38 prevents theplatform 34 from moving upward or forward. By having the angle of theL-shaped guardrail 38 greater than ninety degrees, it becomes easier toinstall and remove the platform 34 from the roofing bracket 10. Itshould be apparent to one skilled in the art that other shapedguardrails can be equally effective.

[0037] Once again moving rearward along the base 12 and to its proximalend 40, a backside support 42 is disposed upwardly and perpendicularmember 41from the proximal end 40 of the base 12. The backside support42 includes an angled lip 44 that mounts to the rear side 46 of theplatform support 26 and aligned in the same direction as the platformsupport 26. The mounting means for the angled lip 44 of the backsidesupport 42 to the platform support 26 and the mounting means for theplatform support arm bottom lip 28 to the base 12 will be discussedlater.

[0038] A heel 48 extends from the lower back side 50 of the backsidesupport 42. In a preferred embodiment, the heel 48 is rectangular-shapedhaving a uniform thickness. It is preferred, but not necessary, that thelateral dimensions of the heel 48 be roughly equivalent to the width ofthe backside support 42. It is preferable but not necessary that thethickness of the heel 48 be greater than the thickness of the backsidesupport 42. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the backsidesupport 42 is approximately one eighth inch, while the thickness of thedisc-shaped heel 48 is slightly greater than three eighths inch. It isalso possible to create the roofing bracket 10 not having the heel 48 asshown in FIG. 10.

[0039] While this invention is described according to a preferredembodiment, it is not necessary that the heel 48 be rectangular. Otherheel shapes will suffice.

[0040] Looking now between the front side 50 of the backside support 42and the bottom rear side 52 of the platform support 24, there isdisposed a triangular shaped brace 54. The bottom surface 56 of thebrace 54 mounts longitudinally along the center of the base 12. A rearend 55 of the brace 54 mounts longitudinally to the front side 50 of thebackside support 42. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the rearend 55 of the brace 54 is roughly equivalent to the diameter of thedisc-shaped heel 48. Although the shape of the brace 54 has beendescribed as being triangular shaped, it should be apparent to oneskilled in the art that other brace shapes can also be effective, orthat a plurality of angle braces can also be utilized.

[0041] In FIGS. 5 and 6 and according to another preferred embodimentthe brace 84 includes a substantially rectangular shaped portion 86 anda triangular shaped portion 88 or wedge shaped portion 90.

[0042] In yet another alternative embodiment a triangular shaped brace92 defines a cross sectional area of the triangular shaped volume formedby base 12, platform support 26 and the backside support 42, shown inFIG. 7.

[0043] In still yet another alternative embodiment a rectangular shapedbrace 94 is disposed between the backside support 42 and the platformsupport 26, shown in FIG. 8.

[0044] It is also possible to include a plurality of braces 96, FIG. 9,between the backside support 42 and the platform support 26.

[0045] Turning back to the mounting means between the platform supportarm bottom lip 28 to the base 12 and backside support angle lip 44 tothe platform support 26, it should be noted that typical mounting meansare known in the art and include welding and/or riveting. It has beencommon in the art to rivet because the roofing brackets 10 are bangedoften with hammers, which destroys welded joints quicker than rivetedjoints.

[0046] With respect to the base 12, backside support 42, and angle lip44, it is preferable to one piece die cast using an appropriate metalsuch as steel. The platform support arm 24 is also one piece die caststeel. Typically, a flat piece of steel having suitable dimensions ismanipulated to shape to form the base 12, backside support 42, angledlip 44 and platform support arm 24 using known manipulation means.Finally, the heel 48 is one piece cast as is the brace 54. Infabricating the bracket, all four above identified pieces are weldedand/or riveted together using means known in the art of fabrication.

[0047] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a roofing bracket 10 of thepresent invention in use on a roof 60. A roofing shingle 62 typicallyconsists of a thick tar saturated material upper part 64 and a granularshowy lower part 66. The granular showy lower part 66 of an uppershingle 68 conceals the thick tar saturated upper part 64 of a lowershingle 70. A roofer starts at the bottom of the roof and works his wayup to the peak of the roof.

[0048] In order to gain access to a higher point on the roof, at leasttwo roofing brackets are set apart a distance side by side. Theplatform, typically a 2×6, 2×8, 2×10 or 2×12 is securely placed onto theplatform support arms 24 so that one side edge 72 of the platform fitssnugly inside the L-shaped guardrail 38 of the roofing brackets 10. Theroofer uses the platform 34 as a means of storing tools and materialsand to support his body weight.

[0049] Prior to placing the platforms 34 onto the roofing brackets 10,the roofing brackets 10 must be set in place. The roofer peels back thegranular showy lower part 66 of an upper shingle 68. The roofing bracket10 is placed over the lower shingle 70 so that the plurality of nailslots 14 are disposed over the thick tar saturated upper part 64 of thelower shingle 70. The roofer drives a nail 74 through the arcuate headportion 16 of each nail slot 14 until the nail head 76 contacts theupper surface 78 of the roofing bracket base 12.

[0050] After using and removing the platform 34, the roofer removes theroofing bracket 10 by tapping sharply with a hammer head squarely ontothe heel 48 of the roofing bracket 10. In a preferred embodiment, theheel 48 is of a different color than the color of the backside support42 so as to provide the roofer with a more visible striking target.

[0051] As previously described, the nail slots 14 include an arcuatehead portion 16 disposed along the central longitudinal axis of the base12. The arcuate head portion 16 opens into a backwardly directed slantedchannel 18 such that when the heel 48 is struck with the hammer, thebase 12 is urged into the direction of its distal end 13 and away fromthe direction that the slanted channel 18 runs from the arcuate headportion 16. The slanted channels 18 run until they reach a beveledportion 22 on the distal side 21 of the slanted channel 18 at whichpoint the beveled portion 18 and the proximal side 23 of the slantedchannel 18 open at a lateral edge 20 of the base 12.

[0052] The brace 54 extends between the front side 50 of the backsidesupport 42 to the lower rear side 52 of the platform support 26. As thehammer strikes the heel 48, the brace 54 serves several functions.First, the brace 54 causes the force of the strike to transfersubstantially longitudinally along the base 12, thereby causing the base12 to shift uniformly forward.

[0053] Second the brace 54 acts to prevent the backside support 42 fromcollapsing as the heel 48 is struck with the hammer head.

[0054] As the force of the hammer causes the base 12 to shift in aforward direction, the slanted channels 18 of the nail slots 14 ridealong a side edge of their respective nails 74 until the nail slots 14become completely disengaged from the nails 74. At this point, theroofer completely removes the roofing bracket 10 and pounds the nails 74into the thick tar saturated part 64 of the under shingle 70.

[0055] According to yet another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11,the base 12 includes a portion between the platform support 26 and thebackside support 42 having a corrugated ridge 104 along its longitudinalaxis. The corrugated ridge 104 is made by stamping during manufacture ofthe bracket 10.

[0056] In still yet another embodiment depicted in FIG. 12, the brace100 extends only a portion along the base 12 from the backside support42.

[0057] In still yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a raised brace102 extends from the backside support 42 to the platform support 26.

[0058] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have beenparticularly described in the specification and illustrated in thedrawings, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited.Many modifications, equivalents and adaptations of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A roofing bracket for use with a platform, saidbracket including: A base having a proximal and distal end and at leastone nail slot disposed therethrough towards the distal end of said base;A platform support arm having a bottom lip superpositioned over andattached to the base, further having a platform support extending fromsaid bottom lip, said platform support arm further having a guardrailextending from the platform support; A backside support extending fromthe proximal end of the base said backside support including a lowerportion being perpendicular to said base, said backside supportincluding an angled lip, said angled lip being attached with a rearportion of said platform support; and At least one brace extending fromthe backside support toward the platform support arm.
 2. The roofingbracket of claim 1, further including a heel extending from the rear ofsaid backside support.
 3. The roofmg bracket of claim 1, wherein saidbrace includes a back surface contiguous with a front surface of saidbackside support and a bottom surface contiguous with an upper surfaceof said base.
 4. The roofing bracket of claim 1, wherein said braceincludes a back surface contiguous with a front surface of said backsidesupport and a frontward surface contiguous with a rear surface of saidplatform support.
 5. The roofing bracket of claim 1, wherein said braceincludes a back surface contiguous with a front surface of said backsidesupport, a bottom surface contiguous with an upper surface of said baseand a frontward surface contiguous with a rear surface of said platformsupport and a frontward surface contiguous with a rear surface of saidplatform support.
 6. The roofing bracket of claim 1, wherein said braceincludes a corrugation along said base extending from said backsidesupport.
 7. The roofing bracket of claim 6, wherein said corrugationextends from said backside support substantially to said platformsupport.
 8. The roofing bracket of claim 1, wherein said brace is onepiece and includes a first rectangular portion connected to the backsidesupport and a second wedge shaped portion connected to the platformsupport.
 9. The roofing bracket of claim 1, wherein said brace is onepiece and includes a first rectangular portion connected to the backsidesupport and a second triangular shaped portion connected to the platformsupport.
 10. A roofing bracket for use with a platform, said bracketincluding: A base having a proximal and distal end and at least one nailslot disposed therethrough towards the distal end of said base; Aplatform support arm having a bottom lip superpositioned over andattached to the base, further having a platform support extending fromsaid bottom lip, said platform support arm further having a guardrailextending from the platform support; A backside support extending fromthe proximal end of the base said backside support including a lowerportion being perpendicular to said base, said backside supportincluding an angled lip, said angled lip being attached with a rearportion of said platform support; At least one brace extending from thebackside support toward the platform support arm; and A heel extendingfrom the rear of said backside support.
 11. The roofing bracket of claim10 wherein said brace includes a back surface contiguous with a frontsurface of said backside support and a bottom surface contiguous with anupper surface of said base.
 12. The roofing bracket of claim 10, whereinsaid brace includes a back surface contiguous with a front surface ofsaid backside support and a frontward surface contiguous with a rearsurface of said platform support.
 13. The roofing bracket of claim 10,wherein said brace includes a back surface contiguous with a frontsurface of said backside support, a bottom surface contiguous with anupper surface of said base and a frontward surface contiguous with arear surface of said platform support and a frontward surface contiguouswith a rear surface of said platform support.
 14. The roofing bracket ofclaim 10, wherein said brace includes a corrugation along said baseextending from said backside support.
 15. The roofing bracket of claim14, wherein said corrugation extends from said backside supportsubstantially to said platform support.
 16. The roofing bracket of claim10, wherein said heel is rectangular shaped.
 17. The roofing bracket ofclaim 10, wherein said heel is disc shaped.
 18. The roofing bracket ofclaim 10, wherein the backside of said heel is of a different color thanthe backside of said backside support.
 19. The roofing bracket of claim1 0, wherein said brace is triangular shaped including a lower edgehaving a lower edge length and a backside edge having a backside edgelength.
 20. The roofing bracket of claim 19, wherein said lower edgeextends from the front side of said backside support to the back side ofsaid platform support.
 21. The roofing bracket of claim 19, wherein saidbase includes a longitudinal center wherein said lower edge is disposedlongitudinally along the longitudinal center of said base.
 22. Theroofing bracket of claim 10, wherein said base, said backside support,said heel and said brace are cumulatively one piece cast.
 23. Theroofing bracket of claim 10, wherein said roofing bracket is one piececast.
 24. The roofing bracket of claim 10, including a plurality ofparallel spaced braces.
 25. The roofing bracket of claim 10, wherein thefront side of said backside support, a portion of the back side of saidplatform support and the top surface of said base between the lower edgeof said backside support and the lower edge of said platform supportform a triangular shaped volume having a thickness being the width ofsaid base, and wherein said brace is the same shape and size as thetriangular shape of the triangular shaped volume and disposed on thelongitudinal axis of said base.
 26. The roofing bracket of claim 10,wherein said brace extends from the front side of said backside supportto the rear surface of said platform support.
 27. The roofing bracket ofclaim 10, wherein said brace is rectangular shaped.
 28. The roofingbracket of claim 10, wherein said angle brace is one piece and includesa first rectangular portion connected to the backside support and asecond wedge shaped portion connected to the platform support.
 29. Theroofing bracket of claim 10, wherein said angle brace is one piece andincludes a first rectangular portion connected to the backside supportand a second triangular shaped portion connected to the platformsupport.
 30. A method of fabricating a roofing bracket, said methodcomprising: fabricating a first piece, wherein said first pieceincludes, a base having a proximal and distal end and at least one nailslot disposed therethrough towards the distal end of said base, and abackside support extending from the proximal end of the base and havinga portion being perpendicular to said base, said backside supportincluding an angled lip, said angled lip being attached with a rearportion of said platform support; fabricating a second piece, whereinsaid second piece includes a platform support arm having a bottom lipwhich can be superpositioned over and attached to the base, furtherhaving a platform support extending from said bottom lip, said platformsupport arm further having a guardrail extending from the platformsupport; securing said first piece to said second piece, wherein saidbottom lip is superpositioned over and attached to the base and saidangled lip is attached with a rear portion of said platform support,wherein a portion of the backside of said platform support and a portionof the front side of said backside support define a substantiallytriangular shaped volume; fabricating at least one brace havingdimensions that define a portion of said triangular shaped volume; andsecuring said brace to the backside of said platform support and to thefront side of said backside support and to the top of said base.
 31. Themethod of claim 30, further including the steps of fabricating a heeland securing said heel to the rear of said backside support.
 32. Themethod of claim 30, wherein said securing said first piece to saidsecond piece further includes the step of riveting the first piece tothe second piece.
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein said securing saidfirst piece to said second piece further includes the step of weldingsaid first piece to said second piece.
 34. The method of claim 32,further including the step of welding said brace to the backside of saidplatform support and to the front side of said backside support and tothe top of said base.
 35. The method of claim 33, further including thestep of welding said brace to the backside of said platform support andto the front side of said backside support and to the top of said base.